Christmas Project...

As always I have to be doing something. That something typically includes some sort of hands on activity and usually power tools. Being off from school for quite a while and not really in the mood to work on a painting I decided to make your average run of the mill plywood toboggan. I decided I wanted to make a toboggan after I spent an hour after school last week hauling my girls around the neighborhood in a sled that they have outgrown. We defenitely needed something longer that they could sit comfortably on. So I started off where any person would...Google. I found some ideas online and figured out what I wanted to do. So yesterday I spent a couple of hours getting most of the parts cut and assembled and today I spent a good four more hours attaching the "skin" to the bottom and top. Tomorrow I will remove the tempoary supports from the front, sand the entire thing and then finish it off with some oil based paint (whatever color I have on hand, not pink or purple). I have learned a few things that I will do differently with the next one. Anywho, I am sure the girls will enjoy it and yes, we are expecting more snow on Wednesday! Hopefully the paint will be dry by then.
Cheers!

Merry Christmas

In the past 48 hours my house has miraculously turned into a full-tilt bakery! I baked 10 loaves yesterday and 14 today. European Peasant, Sesame Semolina, Spinach and Feta, Roasted Red Pepper, Sun dried Tomato and Parmesan, Pumpernickel and to round it all out, Cinnamon and Raisin. Wow! It has been extremely enjoyable to say the least. I believe that I like it so much because it is unlike anything I do during the typical working day.

Well, this will most likely be the last post of 2009. I hope everyone takes a moment to remember why we celebrate this beautiful time each year. I wish you all the best for 2010 and hope you have a Merry and Happy Christmas.

Cheers,
Jason

On the go

I have been working through some new ideas for upcoming paintings and installation pieces. Using some new imagery along with previous ideas. I really like being able to connect the old and the new. That is probably why I enjoy working on re-purposed materials. It has become quite apparent to me that I have a difficult time working with just a smooth surface. Texture, changes in surface and the like are what grab my attention. The new work I have been planning really emphasizes this. I would also like to find a location to do another show sometime next year, preferably somewhere other than Rushville. This will be on my to-do list. I have a few places in mind, one is in Macomb the other is in Virginia.

By having a time frame and a set date I can better prepare and focus on what I need to do. Hopefully I will have something in place by the end of the year. I will keep you posted.

Cheers.

Work from Friday Nights Group Show

Last night, December 4, Local Connection Artist Co-op hosted its 2nd annual group exhibit and sale. I displayed these four new, and considerably smaller mixed media works. Each one of these was created on old hardbound book covers with screen printing, spray paint, acrylic and pen. Each one was then mounted on a quarter inch sheet of luan panel and framed in painted pine. 99.9% recycled baby! Gotta love that. Unfortunately these did not sell but they will soon be listed on my etsy site if you are interested in purchasing one...or two...or...

The show was a huge success. We had a packed room most of the evening. Good food, great atmosphere. People just out for the evening to look at some fantastic art, enjoy good food and conversation. In my book, that is a fun night. Tiring but worth it. Cheers.

New work

I have been working on some smaller pieces lately. As of today, I am planning on having four, possibly five, small paintings for the show. Four of these paintings are on covers of old, discarded books. I removed the pages and have been painting and printing directly on the insides of the the covers. I am also planning on having one piece that utilizes recycled wood.

Upcoming show

I have a few new pieces that will be going in the Local Connection Artist Co-op Group Exhibit and sale next month. These will be smaller works since that is the focus of this years exhibit. Here are a few photos of a spray paint and acrylic on plywood piece I just finished up.

where I'm at

I have had some time to slow down a bit and process some of my current ideas. Still planning on doing some prints...sometime. Just a heads up, my paintings are moving a bit more abstract. I have been trying for so long to paint and create art that has a least some form of realism in it...that is changing. When I slow down and start to really think about the art I want to create, well its not realistic. I'm having a difficult time with this. Difficult in the sense that I never really envisioned myself as "one of those types". See, abstract, especially non-objective art is often times viewed as well, not art. Often times when people are unable to see something from reality or at the very least something somewhat recognizable in a piece of art they dismiss it. It is the dismissing part that makes it difficult. Personally, I don't want my work to be viewed this way. I suppose that is the feeling of most artist who put a tremendous amount of time and energy into their work

Over the years I have become quite fond of art that is uncomplicated and uncluttered. Art that is void of useless and pointless stuff that is totally unnecessary. It's kind of like seeing a photo of say a light bulb resting on a table, shot in black and white with just the right amount of contrast...it doesn't need anything else, it just works. Maybe its my age, maybe maturity (not likely), experience or quite possibly it something that has always been there and I am finally allowing myself to be "one of those types". Either way, it is freeing and extremely powerful...all at the same. I'm curious to see what happens.